Lightweight coated paper, also called light coated paper, low-basis-weight coated paper, or fully coated paper, refers to a type of coated paper with a relatively low grammage. A specific coating is applied to the surface of the base paper, and then it undergoes super-calendering to improve its physical properties and printing performance. It is characterized by low grammage and strong printing adaptability.

The grammage of this type of paper generally ranges from 58-80 GSM and mainly consists of two parts: the base paper and the coating.

The base paper usually contains a relatively high proportion of mechanical wood pulp, which gives the paper high opacity, good bulk, and low cost. A certain proportion of chemical wood pulp is also added to enhance the paper's strength, such as tensile strength and tear resistance. Fillers like kaolin and calcium carbonate are added to the paper to improve smoothness and opacity.

Pigments are the main component of the coating, accounting for about 70%-90%, commonly kaolin and calcium carbonate, which determine the post-coating smoothness, gloss, and whiteness. Binders are used to bond the pigment particles together and firmly adhere them to the base paper. Finally, small amounts of additives, such as dispersants and lubricants, are added to improve the coating’s processing and paper formation properties.

Main characteristics of lightweight coated paper:

Physically light:usually 40-90gsm, much lighter than conventional coated paper, making printed materials like magazines and catalogs lighter and significantly reducing transportation costs.

Cost-effective:cheaper than coated paper and suitable for large-scale printing needs.

Strong printing adaptability: compatible with various printing methods such as offset and gravure, with color reproduction close to that of coated paper.

Balanced performance: combining smoothness, stiffness, and flexibility, suitable for printed matter combining text and images, as well as processes like folding and die-cutting.

Good gloss and smoothness: with a soft sheen and smooth feel after calendering, providing an appealing visual effect.

High opacity: one of its key technical achievements. Despite being thin, special pulp formulations, fillers, and coating processes achieve excellent opacity, effectively preventing show-through in double-sided printing and ensuring a comfortable reading experience.

Thanks to its cost-performance ratio, lightweight coated paper is widely used in high-volume printing. Its main application is magazine and periodical printing. It is also used for various promotional brochures, such as supermarket posters, direct-mail advertisements, promotional flyers, and brochures. Additionally, it is suitable for books with high demands for color illustrations, such as children's books and travel albums.